ILLINOIS STATE DAIR1 MEN'S ASSOCIATION. 189- 



The edges and ends of all staves were painted with thin gas tar, which 

 is a good preservative of wood as is known. It was my original intention 

 to paint the wood work on the outside, but a friend of mine who has had 

 a stave silo for several years, has stated that where he painted his silo, it 

 decayed more rapidly than where he did not, and that in future he should 

 never paint a silo. We have at Purdue a large water supply tank, which 

 has been painted for many years, and; the staves have apparently not be- 

 come seriously decayed during this time. The acrid gas of silage, how- 

 ever, might have a different effect upon the wood and promote decay more 

 rapidly than it would be otherwise. Next spring I think I shall paint part 

 of the silo, and leave the other part unpainted, and keep a note of the re- 

 sults. 



Before putting on the hoops, careful consideration was given 'to the 

 relative merits of flat and round hoops, and the flat was decided on. If one 

 wishes to tighten up a hoop, there is a smaller space of resistance, with 

 round iron hoops clasping the staves, than with two inch flat bands, so 

 that the work can be more easily done. Further, the bands are more ex- 

 posed to rust, and are not so easily handled, and require more labor in 

 fitting the ends for thread. The attention of the writer has been called 

 to the fact tha some individual, in his desire to reduce expenses as~much 

 as possible, used bands of woven wire fencing. This is a unique proposi- 

 tion, but whether such stave holders would be as satisfactory as rods, is 

 questionable. 



The question of the cost of this stave silo is the leading one that will 

 be asked my many. This may summarized as follows: 



Cost of Silo. 



Lime and cement in foundation $ 5.00 



Mason labor 3.60 



Staves . . 70.70 



Four 4x6's., bored for hoop supports 5.20 



Circle of oak for sill 3.10 



Ten hoops 10.00 



Staples and nails 30 



Roof (lumber $5, tin $6) 11.00 



Labor, 2 men four days 10.00 



$118.90 



